Skip to main content Accessibility help
×

Authors

Publishing an open access book

Open access (OA) is an important way to make research findings openly available. Content is available to all, with unrestricted online access. There are no embargo periods and through the licenses we adopt, sharing and re-use of the work for academic purposes is allowed.

Editorial

3. An open book icon displayed on a white background, illustrating themes of learning and information.

As a Cambridge author, you will enjoy the benefits of a dedicated and expert editorial team throughout the development of your work.

3. An open book icon displayed on a white background, illustrating themes of learning and information.

As a Cambridge author, you will enjoy the benefits of a dedicated and expert editorial team throughout the development of your work.


Production

All open access books published pass through the same rigorous production process as any other non-open access title, including professional copyediting and typesetting.

Icon depicting a machine with gears in black and white, representing the concept of production.
Icon depicting a machine with gears in black and white, representing the concept of production.

All open access books published pass through the same rigorous production process as any other non-open access title, including professional copyediting and typesetting.


Cost

Iconic line drawing of a money bag alongside a calculator, representing cost management and budgeting.

For an open access book of up to 120,000 words the Book Processing Charge (BPC) is £10,500. The processing charge for an open access Element is £6,000. For other types of books, please contact your editor to discuss costs.

Additional charges may be applied for extra words, colour photographs, tables, graphs or figures.

Iconic line drawing of a money bag alongside a calculator, representing cost management and budgeting.

For an open access book of up to 120,000 words the Book Processing Charge (BPC) is £10,500. The processing charge for an open access Element is £6,000. For other types of books, please contact your editor to discuss costs.

Additional charges may be applied for extra words, colour photographs, tables, graphs or figures.


Marketing

Open access books are promoted the same as for any book we publish; a dedicated subject executive is appointed and they will be your point of contact in relation to promotional activities, including social media activity, and promotional materials. In addition, titles will benefit from any broader general marketing we do for our OA books programme.

All authors are given access to Author Hub , our dedicated, online platform for book authors. Authors who receive royalties are able to log in to their personal account for practical advice to support them on their publishing journey, as well as to access sales and royalty information, exclusive author discounts, news and more.

1. Black and white illustration of a computer monitor displaying a video alongside an envelope, symbolizing marketing communication.
1. Black and white illustration of a computer monitor displaying a video alongside an envelope, symbolizing marketing communication.

Open access books are promoted the same as for any book we publish; a dedicated subject executive is appointed and they will be your point of contact in relation to promotional activities, including social media activity, and promotional materials. In addition, titles will benefit from any broader general marketing we do for our OA books programme.

All authors are given access to Author Hub , our dedicated, online platform for book authors. Authors who receive royalties are able to log in to their personal account for practical advice to support them on their publishing journey, as well as to access sales and royalty information, exclusive author discounts, news and more.


Discoverability

A magnifying glass icon set against a white background, representing the concept of discoverability.

Discoverability of your title is essential. Hosted on our own online platform means readers are given fast, intuitive and easy access to the content they need. Being able to filter content by OA titles and easy pdf downloading means readers are able to download and read your title quickly and easily.

A magnifying glass icon set against a white background, representing the concept of discoverability.

Discoverability of your title is essential. Hosted on our own online platform means readers are given fast, intuitive and easy access to the content they need. Being able to filter content by OA titles and easy pdf downloading means readers are able to download and read your title quickly and easily.


Print

All titles are published in ebook format meaning our books are instantly available. At the same time, all open access titles are available in print via print-on-demand, meaning titles never go out of stock.

A printer icon displayed on a plain white background, indicating printing options.
A printer icon displayed on a plain white background, indicating printing options.

All titles are published in ebook format meaning our books are instantly available. At the same time, all open access titles are available in print via print-on-demand, meaning titles never go out of stock.


Licensing

A black and white icon depicting a key on a keyring, representing licensing and access control.

Once the Book Processing Charge has been paid, titles are published under a Creative Commons licence, which sets out how the work can be reused. Our default Creative Commons (CC) licence is CC-BY-NC-ND  but other licences can be accommodated, in line with funder requirements.

The CC-BY-NC-ND licence allows others to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, however, the material may not be used for commercial purposes. Further to this, if you remix, transform or build upon the material these modifications cannot be distributed.

Publishing under a CC licence facilitates progress within a research discipline, as it allows researchers to reuse and build on each other’s work, while still permitting a degree of control.

A black and white icon depicting a key on a keyring, representing licensing and access control.

Once the Book Processing Charge has been paid, titles are published under a Creative Commons licence, which sets out how the work can be reused. Our default Creative Commons (CC) licence is CC-BY-NC-ND  but other licences can be accommodated, in line with funder requirements.

The CC-BY-NC-ND licence allows others to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, however, the material may not be used for commercial purposes. Further to this, if you remix, transform or build upon the material these modifications cannot be distributed.

Publishing under a CC licence facilitates progress within a research discipline, as it allows researchers to reuse and build on each other’s work, while still permitting a degree of control.


FAQ